6 jaw-dropping luxury stays in New Zealand

09.09.2024 - 19:05 / lonelyplanet.com

Sep 8, 2024 • 6 min read

Yes it has pristine wilderness, vibrant culture, and super-friendly locals, but did you know New Zealand is also blessed with some of the world’s best accommodation?  Aotearoa’s luxury lodges offer not only security and privacy: guests get exclusive access to unique experiences such as horse-riding in alpine meadows, heli-skiing and fly-fishing on wild rivers.

As travelers are becoming more mindful about where (and how) they vacation, many are finding a splurge on luxury accommodation an attractive proposition. If you're only going to go to New Zealand once in your lifetime, why not enjoy the best of it?

New Zealand's unique luxury lodges offer more privacy – you're sharing with fewer (and sometimes no other) guests. Some are self-catering, or catering is included on-site by the hosts or a private chef. Plus, staying in one spot, rather than moving around, reduces costs as well as stress on your trip. 

New Zealand is blessed with many unique places to stay, here is a selection of a few of the best. 

On the South Island in the vicinity of whale-watching hub Kaikōura, Hapuku Lodge has five boutique "tree houses" dotted among the branches of its Kanuka grove. Tree houses may sound rustic, but these come with luxurious deep baths, fireplaces to stay cozy in winter, and epic views of Kaikōura’s dramatic mountain range. They are an excellent option for families, as a separate bedroom gives parents private space, and families time together away from the main lodge.  

The "kai" in Kaikōura means "food" (Kaikōura translates from Māori "meal of crayfish") and food is also one of the other major draws at Hapuku Lodge. Naturally, the seasonal three-course menu includes local crayfish (tenderly-grilled with chilli, horseradish & lime...) but venison is also a speciality: Hapuku Lodge is set on a deer farm. Produce from the kitchen garden is complemented by regional suppliers, local farmers and fishermen.

Flockhill  is an exclusive luxury accommodation on a 36,000-acre working sheep station in Canterbury. In late 2024, seven new villas and an onsite restaurant will be added to the award-winning Homestead that opened here in 2023. Each villa has a king or twin beds, a welcoming fire and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Southern Alps. To further immerse yourself in the South Island's natural environment you can add horse riding, rafting, hiking, fishing, caving and e-biking to your stay. Off-site, guests can hop on a helicopter to the West Coast to visit a pounamu (greenstone) carver’s studio , play golf, head out on a winery tour, or go skiing in winter. If you prefer a more relaxed vibe, there’s an onsite spa and yoga room to make unwind instead.

An altogether different experience